IMS wins Supreme Court decision
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Vermont ban on companies collecting sales data on drug prescriptions from physicians, after IMS Health challenged the law on grounds it violated its right to free speech.
In Sorrell v. IMS, the Supreme Court ruled that the Vermont statute violates the First Amendment by banning the voluntary exchange of information on a matter of public importance ”“ improperly restricting the rights of others from using information about physicians”™ prescribing practices. IMS of Norwalk has also challenged similar laws in Maine and New Hampshire and expressed confidence those will now be declared unconstitutional or repealed.
In the 6-3 decision, the majority stated the First Amendment “directs us to be especially skeptical of regulations that seek to keep people in the dark for what the government perceives to be their own good.”
“Transparency is vitally important to advancing health care,” Harvey Ashman, general counsel of IMS Health, said in a statement. “The availability of information on the prescribing practices of physicians enables communications about new medicines, best practices and safety updates.”
IMS Health was joined in the lawsuit by SDI and Source Healthcare Analytics, a subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions; and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
State gets green-training funds
The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $5.9 million grant to train nearly 1,000 Connecticut residents for jobs in the green construction industry and to place them in jobs.
“The grants announced today are an important part of the administration”™s efforts to ensure workers have the skills they need to compete and succeed in emerging green industry jobs,” Hilda Solis, secretary of the Department of Labor, said in a statement.
Employment agencies, including one in Bridgeport, will use the grant to fund the Connecticut Green Jobs Funnel Initiative, which is to prepare lower-skill workers for introduction to the green construction industry. The program will provide basic skills remediation, green skills certification and trade-specific technical skills training, among other goals.
“This grant combines the right training, the work, and the right long-term vision to help make Bridgeport and its citizens leaders in the clean energy economy,” U.S. Rep. Jim Himes said.
The LIUNA Training and Education Fund in Pomfret Center will separately receive $5.5 million for its Energy Efficiency and Green Construction Jobs Training Program, with plans to conduct energy efficiency and green construction worker training in Albany, New York City, Newburgh, N.Y., and Long Island; as well as in Miami, New Orleans, and Cincinnati.
Bridgeport draws distribution center
EcoLogic Energy Solutions relocated a distribution center into nearly 9,000 square feet of space at 1945 Commerce Drive in Bridgeport, while maintaining its existing offices at Bridge Square in Westport.
Westport-based Vidal/Wettenstein represented EcoLogic, which offers spray-foam insulation for residential and commercial buildings in Connecticut and New York. Building owner Brentwood Extension L.L.C. retained Green & Gross as counsel.
Umpire backs Stratford eatery
With Stratford native and Major League Baseball umpire John Hirschbeck, restaurateur Dean Mazzarro opened Siena Italian Trattoria in Stratford.
Located at StationHouse Square at 2505 Main St., the restaurant”™s pizza, pasta, and desserts derive from recipes of the Mazzarro family.
Physical therapy center expands
Moore Physical Therapy and Fitness opened a fourth location at 83 Harvard Ave. in Stamford, occupying nearly 9,000 square feet of space.
The company also has a sister office located at 1250 Summer St. With the new office, the business plans to add personal training to its services.
